Turkey experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, averaging 15.6°C, with a notable increase in temperature alongside reduced rainfall, particularly affecting its agricultural regions and exacerbating environmental issues, such as droughts and sinkholes.
In 2024, Turkey recorded its hottest year on record, with an average temperature of 15.6 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous high of 15.5 degrees registered in 2010. This increase of 1.7 degrees over the average from 1991 to 2020 highlights a concerning trend of rising temperatures that has persisted in the country since 2007, with the exception of one year, 2011. Accompanying this rise in temperature has been a decrease in rainfall, particularly severe along the drought-afflicted Aegean coast, where rainfall was 22.4 percent below the norm.
The topic of climate change has become increasingly pressing as global temperatures continue to rise, with many nations experiencing historical heat records. Turkey’s designation of 2024 as its warmest year follows a pattern seen globally, with other countries, including China, Brazil, Japan, and the United States, also announcing record high temperatures. The increasing temperatures raise alarm over the impacts of climate change, including droughts and accompanying environmental issues like the formation of sinkholes.
In summary, 2024 marks a significant point in Turkey’s climate history as it becomes the hottest year on record, reflecting a global trend of rising temperatures due to climate change. The combination of extreme heat and reduced rainfall, particularly in Turkey’s agricultural regions, raises serious concerns about the future impacts on the environment and agriculture in the region. It calls for urgent action as highlighted by international bodies warning about the dire consequences of unchecked climate change.
Original Source: www.barrons.com
